House letter-box.



V. U. KOONS. HOUSE LETTER BOX. APPLICATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

VIRGIL KOONS, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

HoosE LETTER-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 10, 1909.

iApplication filed November 30, 11908. SerialNo. 465,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGIL C. KooNs, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, El Paso county, Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in House Letter -Boxes; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in deposit and collection rece tacles, and more articular-1y relates to w at are commonly rnown as house letter boxes; and the objects and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following ex lanation of the accompanying drawings il ustrating what I now consider my preferred embodiment from among other structures within the spirit and scope-of my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide a house letter box of the type adapted for location on a house or other uilding, with'certain improvements-whereby an exceedingly durable, efficient and simple device will be produced for locking and releasing the movgble closure for the mail egress opening of the A further object of theinvention is to provide certain improvements in arrangements, constructions and combinations of parts, whereby an efficient and comparatively lowpriced letter box will be produced wherein the letter box door is adapted to be opened and locked by fastening or lock mechanism operative from within the buildingto the exterior of which the letter box is secured.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction or arrangements and in combinations of arts as more fully and particularly set fort 1 and described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings:Figure 1, shows the wall of a uilding artially broken away'and in perspective a' etter box of my invention applied thereto, the door being open, certain portions of the lock mechanism being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2, is a detail pers ective view of a portion of the interior of t e box, the remaining portions of the box walls being broken away. ig. 3, is a horizontalsection through the box showing the lock mechanism and the operating means therefor, portions of the box being broken away. Fig. '4, is a vertical sectional view through the front wall of the box showing means whereby a key, illustrated in said view, can be utilized forreleasing the box door.

In the drawings, I show an approximately rectangular letter box or like receptacle rig idly secured to and at the exterior surface of a Wall or exterior door, 1, of a building, such for instance, as a house or dwelling so that the letter carrier can deposit in the box his delivery for the house without disturbing the occupants or awaiting the personal appear ance of anoccupant to receive'the mail.

. The letter box can be of any suitable or desirable construction, although I at present prefer to employ a box having a flat strong rear wall 2, by which the box can be secured to the building, a fixed vertical front w all 3, rigid bottom and edge walls, and a tapered or dome-like fixed top having letter ingress opening 4, normally closed by a vertically swinging drop or lid 5.

I show the rigid or fixed front wall oftho box formed with a letter egress opening usually into the lower portion of the box and preferably less in width than. the width of said front wall so as to leave portions 01'" the front-wall between the opening and the vertical edge walls of the box, although i. do not wish to so limit my invention. This opening is normally closed by a suitable movable closure, such as swinging door 6, arranged at the exterior of the front wall and adapted to overlap the same around the opening when closing the same. I show the door united to the-front wall of the box by vertical hinge 7.; between one vertical edge of the door and thrbox wall, while the free end of the 'door is provided with a rigid inwardly projecting notched and beveled keeper 8, mlaptcd, when the door is closed, to project into the interior of the box through opening or notch 9, in the front wall thereof. The door can also beprovided with peep opening 10, if so desired covered by a glass plate or other suit- .Suitable means should preferably be pro .vided for normally tending'to maintain the door in opened positionso that when releasedfrom the locking In echanism the door will at once swing open or partially open. To this end, I secure a plate spring 11, within the box and at the inner surlace of the lront wall 01' the box so that the lower free end of said spring extends downwardly across the opening 9 and constantly tends to spring lor- Ward against the inner surlaec ol said wall. The arrangement is such that as the door is closed, the inner end ol its keeper 8, will project through opening 9, and engage the free end of the spring so that the door must be forced to completely closed position against the tension of said spring, thereby forcing or pressing the free end of the spring inwardly. The spring is thus held under tension while the door is in locked or closed position, hence, the instant the door is released from its locking mechanism, the spring will assume its normal position and in doing so w ill, through the medium of the keeper, swing the door open.

The mechanism for locking, the door eon1- prises a rockor crank shalt 12, arranged transversely of and within the box between the front and rear Walls thereof and arranged horizontally along the inner face of one of the box edge Walls. Any suitable boxes or other bearing or journal supports can be. pro Vided lor securing said shalt Within the box, although in the specific example illustrated I show the shalt supported by and confined to turn in straps or brackets 13, seoured to the said edge wall of the box and arranged between the two end cranks or lateral arms of said shaft. The front endol said shaft is bent at right angles or otherwise formed with a crank or lateral arm 14 forming; the latch or bolt externiing horizontally between the front box wall toward the mail egress opening and transversely across the openinq' 9, and across the l'ront or outer lace oi the uoonopening spring 11. This latch or bolt arm is so arranged with respect to the keeper 8, that as the door is lorced to closed position, the beveled end of the keeper will engage the latch and move the same upwardly, and thereby swing the rock shalt until the door is in completely closed position wl'iereupon the latch will drop into the notch. of the keeper and hold the door locked.

I provide spring means to yieldingly hold the rock shalt and consequently the latch in locking position. For instance, 1 show the inner portion of the rock shalt lorniod or pro vided with a downward deflection, ollset or crank 15, terminating in a rearwardly extending horizontal straight free end it, usually terminating a short distance l'rom the inner lace ol the rear wall ol' the letter box The rock shalt and its latch areyicldingly held in locking position by a straight or plate,

spring 17, at its lower inwardly springing lrcc end overlapping and bearing inwardly on said free end 16 ol the crank shalt and constantly tending to press the same to the inner surface of the edge wall of the box. The spring 17 can be secured at its up )01' end to said edge wall of the box, although I do not wish to limit my invention to this particular spring device for yicldingly holdinp the latch in locking position. llowcver, where the spring 17, is employed it is obvious that upward swing of the latch will rock the crank shalt to sr ing its end it in a direction away from the inner lace ol the edge wall and conscqucntly against the tension ol' said spring.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that to release the door from itslochin; mechanism, it is necessary to oscillate or turn the rock shalt in a direction to lift thrlatch against the tension of spring 17, and that various 111021115 can be empl yed for this purpose. To this end, I can provide means lor operation the lock to release the door, l'rom within the house to the exterior of which the box is secured with the end in view ol provc nting; opening of the box by any unauthoris' d person at the exterior of the house. Ii'cilUC, in the specific example illustrated, show a rock or opening shaft or rod 18, passed loosely through and mounted to turn in an opening: therefor in the rear wall ol the letter box and in the wall or door of the house with a turn button or ling r piece 19, on. its inner end and exposed at some accessible point within the house. ll so desired the inner end of said opening shalt can pass through and turn in cscutcheon 20.

At its inner end within the letter box, I show the opening shalt provided with a cross head with its lower arm or toc 21, resting against the inner lace of the edge wall of the box and interposed between the same and the end 16, ol the latch rock shalt, said cud 16 beingheld to said too by the spring 17. The upper cud 22, ol the cross h ad on ill-'- loch operating shalt lb, cxtcnds upwardly along the inner lacev ol the box edge wall and can be beveled oll to form a stop limiting swing ol the shalt 18 in loch releasing direction.

in order to permit zuljustinout ol th v lock releasing or o aerating shalt 1S according to doors or wal ol' dill'orcut thickness, the" cross head can be longitudinally adjustable on said shalt. For instance, .I show the cross head lorinod with a hole to loosely receive the shalt and permit shiltiugol' the cross head longitudinally on the shalt, and a set screw 23, whereby the cross head can be locked to the shalt at the drsircd longitudinal position thereon.

To rclcasc the door ol the letter box l'rom within the house, it is only necessary to give the shalt a partial revolution in tho 'Jropcr direction by button 12'), whcrcupon tlic too 21, will swing away l'roin the edge wall ol the -box and swing the latch shalt cud 16, In-

lllli wardly against tension of spring 17, and thereby rock said. shaft to lift the latch and release the same from the door keeper.

If so desired, the letter boxes can be fitted to receive a key at the exterior or front thereof so that the lock can be operated from the exterior to release the door, whether or not the lock operating device extending to the interior ol' the house is applied or provided. For instance, a freely turnable disk 24, can be confined in and closing an opening through the front wall of the box by a suitable flange or ring secured to the front wall around said opening and overlap .iing the edge of the disk, or in any other suita lie or desirable manner. This disk will be arranged between the opening Qfor the door keeper and the adj aent vertical edge of the front wall and opposite the junction between the latch and its rock shaft. The disk is provided with a pair of spaced openings, slots or perforations therethrough. A key 25, is provided formed with a bifurcated end formed. by two parallel projecting pins adapted to project through said holes in the disk with one of the pins 26, extending under the latch so that when the key is turned in the'proper direction the disk will be rotated or oscillated and said pin 26, will engage and lift the latch so as to release the same from the door keeper.

modifications might be resorted to in the forms, constructions and arrangements of the parts described or that elements might be omitted or features added, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined y the claims and hence I donot wish to limit myself to the exact constructions shown.

What I claim is 1. A'house letter'box having an opening and a movable closure therefor provided with a keeper, a lock mechanism for said keeper, said box having an exterior wall thereof pro;

- vided with an opening therethrough for the passage of said keeper, and a closure opening spring device within the box and behind said opening and adapted to engage said keeper.

2. A house letter box having a letter egress opening and a swinging door for closing thesame provided with an inwardly projecting keeper, a look within the box to engage said keeper to lock the door closed, and a spring within the box to engage said keeper for opening the door when unlocked.

3. A house letter box having an opening and a swinging door for closing the same, said door pro videdwith an inwardly projecting keeper, a look within the box to engage opening fiat spring secured within the box andinterposed across the path of movement of said keeper.

4. A house letter box having a movable closure, and a lock mechanism therefor within the box comprising a rock shaft having a crank arm forming the latch and a s ring acting on said shaft to normally hol the same and its latch in locking position.

5. A house letter box having a movable closure, and, a lock mechanism therefor arranged within the box and comprising a rock shaft having a crank arm forming the latch and another crank arm and aspring bearing thereon to yieldingly hold the shaft and its latch in normal position.

6. A house letter box having a movable closure, and a latch mechanism therefor comprislng a rock shaft having a crank arm jecting keeper, a rock shaft arranged trans-- vcrsely of and within the box and at its front It is evident that various changes and spring within the box and bearing against said crank arm to ieldingly hold the shaft and its latch in 100 'ing position.

8. A house letter box having a door, means for locking said door comprising a rock shaft within the box having a lateralarm forming a latch and a crank arm, a turn rod extending to the exterior of the box and within t box having a cross head engaging said crank arm and forming a stop, and a spring device yieldingly holding said shaft and rod in normal position.

9. A house letter box having a door, means for locking said door comprising a spring held rock shaft within the box having a crank arm forming. the latch, and means whereby a key can be inserted into the box to'engage and lift said latch, substantially as descr bed and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

J. 0. 81 10121 R. E. JoHNsoN.

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